PlayBook OS 2.0 Seems to Use SwiftKey X Keyboard & Fluency Engine

When I first played with PlayBook OS 2.0 with Jeff Gadway I knew the predictive text engine looked familiar. It looks like there may be a reason for that according to an Easter Egg spotted by Kevin @CrackBerry. SwiftKey X is a very popular third party keyboard for Android and the new PlayBook OS 2.0 keyboard has the same predictive wording where it suggests the name of Phil Collins and Ben Medlock (The CTO of SwiftKey).

I looked in the legal notices for PlayBook OS 2.0 and did not notice any licenses for SwiftKey X but that could mean it simply did not need a written license. What is interesting is that SwiftKey X is really just a proof of concept project for their parent company TouchType Ltd and their core technology which is their Fluency prediction engine. It could be RIM only incorporated the Fluency prediction engine and not the full SwiftKey X keyboard.

Love the improvements and additional functions of OS 2.0. However, I would like a universal search option added to the onscreen keyboard, as well the ability to access my top dock icons without having to swipe the app up. It would also be nice if they including a Sirius radio app as well.The extra control of swiping speed from 1 open application to another is wonderful and the prediction text is very helpful. The acquisition of Gist is evident in the messages, contacts and calendar. It’s great to see all of your contacts even if their not in your contact list. All in all, a terrific upgrade, well done RIMM.